While money is a concern for some people with lung cancer, especially younger men, older patients may worry about how their illness will affect their ability to look after and spend time with their grandchildren.
“The first question that many people ask after their diagnosis is ‘Am I going to die?’. They want hope, and we lung cancer nurses try to give hope, but we also aim to be truthful. This cancer has a very poor survival rate. We lose 80% of our patients within a year of diagnosis,” says Alison, who works at Bradford Royal Infirmary.
“We talk about whether treatment is likely to offer a cure or whether it aims to make you feel better and improve quality of life. We won’t ever try to predict how long a patient has left to live. There is no definite answer with lung cancer. Every patient is different.”
Coping with breathlessness
“We’re often asked for advice on how to cope with everyday symptoms such as breathlessness. We have a range of advice and tips for improving breathing and managing pain.”
Breathing exercises, such as breathing in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth, can help. Save your energy by using a trolley for shopping, carrying a cordless phone or mobile so you don’t have to get up every time the phone rings. Keep everything you need for the day downstairs, to avoid unnecessary trips upstairs.
Your feelings
You’re likely to feel frightened and numb when you learn that you have lung cancer. You might also feel angry, especially if you have never smoked or if you developed lung cancer as a result of your job, for example after exposure to asbestos. If you’ve developed lung cancer after years of smoking, you could feel guilty and regretful.
“These feelings are a natural part of accepting the diagnosis, and all sorts of emotions are likely to come and go,” says Alison.
“We write everything down for patients as they may not take it all in at the time. We can break the news of their cancer to their daughters, sons and grandchildren and other family members if they want us to. We can also talk to people about their feelings or put them in touch with a local support group or counselling organisation as it usually helps to talk to others in a similar situation."
Financial help
“Money can be a big worry for lung cancer patients, especially for those who are the breadwinners for their family and who may have to give up work because of their illness.”
Macmillan nurses and the other organisations listed at the end of this article can guide you to services and benefits that you might be entitled to, which could help to ease your money worries.
Getting support and information
If you or a friend or relative have been diagnosed with lung cancer, there are ways of getting support and advice that can help you cope:
- Macmillan nurses are specially trained to help people with cancer, their carers and families. They can give practical, psychological and emotional support, as well as give information about cancer treatments and side effects, and help people with lung cancer to control their symptoms and pain. There are currently around 3,000 Macmillan nurses, most of them employed by the NHS. They can work in hospitals or hospices and also visit patients' homes. Ask your GP, hospital specialist or district nurse for a referral.
- CancerHelp UK's website has a section devoted to coping with cancer. It includes advice about talking to people, sex and sexuality, financial support and benefits, and coping with symptoms.
- The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only national organisation devoted to improving the lives of people with lung cancer. It can provide information on lung cancer, its treatment and specialist lung cancer nurses. It has free factsheets and leaflets on topics such as breathlessness. Phone the Foundation’s free helpline on 0800 358 7200 or visit www.roycastle.org.
- Macmillan Cancer Support gives advice and information to people affected by any type of cancer including lung cancer. Call the free Macmillan CancerLine on 0808 808 2020 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk.
